Honestly, my house is such a mess

Because of mobility issues we decided to get a cleaner in once a fortnight, she is great, spends two and a half hours dusting vaccuming washing floors scrubbing bathrooms ect. Funny thing is her coming has inspired us to get rid of piles of stuff that were just lying around, on the dressing table, in the kitchen, all sorts of stuff that you just keep because. My husband even cleaned out the pantry so we could get stuff off the bench so she could clean that. My advise to you is tiny steps, a pile a day, a cupboard a day, just one thing, one day you will look around and go my goodness its tidy

I personally couldn't live in a messy, disorganised house. I think we all tend to have too much stuff. My mum always says 'A place for everything and everything in its place.'

At least it is your untidy... I am trying to move into forever home. I left my last house spotless - even the bins were washed out. I thought this one would be same condition. I am staying in rental until at least one bedroom and kitchen are clean. House didn't even reflect condition in price. Affluent neighbourhood -doesnt mean a thing! Law Society protocol forms not even worth the lies told on paper.

Everything calm and uncluttered here, for myself it's for my personal sanity. We also downsized by half 6 years ago so that meant getting rid of a lot of stuff. The catalyst for me was my dad dying unexpectedly in 2007, and just after that I had a cancer diagnosis. My dad's house was full of 'stuff' and I found going through the paperwork and photographs etc extremely distressing while dealing with my own illness. He used to say to me, gleefully, that it's my mess to sort out when he's gone! I'm an only child. I was/am determined that I won't put my own children through that. Paperwork regularly reviewed and shredded if no longer needed. Clothes treated ruthlessly. Having said that, I might have a couple of items which I hope to slim back into! My son bought me a Marie Kondo book a few years ago and it was a game changer, I still dip into it from time to time to bolster myself up. I'm not obsessively tidy by any means, just obsessive about not letting 'stuff' build up.

JaneJudge

I've stopped for lunch. I'm not actually doing too badly today. I think the larder most probably was the worst thing to sort through.

I've sorted all the other kitchen cabinets and wiped them down inside. I've cleaned the oven, the hob and the extractor fan and I've cleaned the top units and worktops one side of the kitchen and cleaned inside the drawers.

I need to clean
the air fryer
the microwave
the toaster and then wipe down the tops of the other side of the kitchen and all the lower doors, plus the worktop the other side

the larder needs wiping down as well. I may not finish this today but I've felt a bit more motivated today

Elbow grease oven cleaner and elbow grease cream cleaner is ever so good. I got it from a little corner shop near me which is very much like the wild west

Seems you're accomplishing a lot. Well done you!

I need a tidy home, I must tidy whilst I do tasks.

Perhaps when you have finished keep at it daily?

Sago

I should have added, I listen to podcasts or audiobooks when I’m working.

It makes it seem less of a chore.

Me too. My current favourite is Book Club. So far I've listened to the one about Game of Thrones and The Hunger Games.

I've stopped for lunch. I'm not actually doing too badly today. I think the larder most probably was the worst thing to sort through.

I've sorted all the other kitchen cabinets and wiped them down inside. I've cleaned the oven, the hob and the extractor fan and I've cleaned the top units and worktops one side of the kitchen and cleaned inside the drawers.

I need to clean
the air fryer
the microwave
the toaster and then wipe down the tops of the other side of the kitchen and all the lower doors, plus the worktop the other side

the larder needs wiping down as well. I may not finish this today but I've felt a bit more motivated today

Elbow grease oven cleaner and elbow grease cream cleaner is ever so good. I got it from a little corner shop near me which is very much like the wild west

I should have added, I listen to podcasts or audiobooks when I’m working.

It makes it seem less of a chore.

Good luck - I'm painting banisters this am so I'll think of you sorting & dealing with "stuff".

right...I need to get going again...<sigh>

Luckygirl3

I put the leftover soap slivers into a little bag that I crocheted that has a long crocheted rope handle that goes round the shower head. My own DIY soap-on-a-rope! It also means that I never drop the soap as I lather it up through the crocheted bag.

Love this Luckygirl13, I can't crochet so will use a lacey doily and a ribbon! Something useful to use up craft stash' will do some for my daughter & her friends too, all the younger ones love this sort of thrifty thing now
I'm sure Her Majesty would have approved at this Calendargirl!

Luckygirl13 your post reminded me that I have a similar very small washing machine bag which came with some reusable face pads. I will search for it. I just hate throwing soap away when parts of the world don't have enough or enough water. Illogical as I throw other things away so not polishing my halo.
DH hates throwing pencils away. You used to be able to buy a little gadget to fit on the end so you could use it down to the smallest stub.

I cannot imagine the late Queen squashed the slivers of soap herself to make new bars.

I’m sure it would have been some flunkey’s job.

And I bet she never used the squashed bars herself, as they don’t always hold together very well. They would have been dispatched to the servants washroom. 🧼

Her Maj would have had a brand new bar each time, I’m sure.

Sago one job in my home is always part of another I'm afraid.

It is lovely that you manage to do jobs one at a time!

I put the leftover soap slivers into a little bag that I crocheted that has a long crocheted rope handle that goes round the shower head. My own DIY soap-on-a-rope! It also means that I never drop the soap as I lather it up through the crocheted bag.

fancythat

I am on 38 years of being in the same house too Cossy.

As I have written elsewhere, I am on year 7 of the declutter.
I think I will finish this year. Hurrah!

I have done it at my own pace.
I expected it to have taken 1 year.

Well done! I will get there one day, which one day, who knows, who cares!

I love bar soap too HelterSkelter, and always feel like I've let our late Queen down when I end up tossing the slivers after someone told me that she'd always made the bits into new bars!

And I like bar soaps, but get left with little slivers of soap which I feel bad about throwing away. I try and squash them together to make a bigger bar with little success. By the time they are slivers they have lost their scent so can't put them in drawers.
Any one with an idea?

Shampoos must last for ages, but I have been known to clean the loo with one I didnt like.
Lotions probably don't last so well. If they still look and smell ok I use them for feet and elbows. Or for hands by the kitchen sink. I wouldnt keep face creams for too long. They certainly would be delegated to feet, knees and elbows.

JaneJudge

Are they all the same type? I just wondered if putting them all into one bottle might work

No, not all one type.
Though it has been a while since I relooked at them properly.

I think in my situation I may have to ditch them.

Sounds like you're getting there, you work at your own speed, you will get to where you want to be

I love the way we all live...and Dust if you must and warning Cossy. And Luckygirl your kitchen/diner come art room and music room sounds very interesting 🤔

NotSpaghetti

Oh Sago
Always finish one job before you start another
🤔

How do you do this??? 😫

I know it’s a bit sad.

I also make a list every morning.

Are they all the same type? I just wondered if putting them all into one bottle might work

How long do they last for?

Again, as I have written elsewhere, I have had a skin condition for a while.
Kept the lotions and potions until now[my skin is finally getting better].

But especially as had a skin condition, I am a bit reluctant to use up 2 or 3 year old shampoos etc . I may buy all new.
Not totally sure what to do in my situation.